Jet Li

Jet Li Lianjie is a prominent martial artist, actor, and philanthropist, widely regarded as one of the greatest Chinese film stars and martial artists in cinematic history. His career, spanning over four decades, played a significant role in reviving Hong Kong kung fu films and the legacy of Shaolin Temple cinema.

Early Life and Martial Arts Career

Born in Beijing, Li displayed exceptional talent in wushu from a young age. He was trained at the Beijing Shichahai Sports School and became a member of the Beijing Wushu Team. Between 1974 and 1979, he achieved multiple national championships, becoming a renowned wushu athlete. His early international exposure included a visit to the United States in 1974 as part of the China National Wushu Team. After retiring from competitive wushu due to injury at age 18, he briefly served as an assistant coach before transitioning to acting.

Acting Career

Li's film debut was in the 1982 film 'Shaolin Temple,' which achieved massive success in China and is credited with sparking a rebirth of interest in the Shaolin Temple. He solidified his status as a leading action star with the 'Once Upon a Time in China' series, portraying the legendary Wong Fei-hung. His filmography includes notable works such as 'Born to Defence,' 'Swordsman II,' 'Fong Sai-yuk,' 'Fist of Legend,' 'High Risk,' 'Black Mask,' and 'Hitman.'

His international career began with a villainous role in 'Lethal Weapon 4' (1998), followed by his first Hollywood leading role in 'Romeo Must Die' (2000). He went on to star in international productions like 'Kiss of the Dragon' and 'Unleashed.' Li returned to Asian cinema with critically acclaimed films such as 'Hero' (2002), which became the highest-grossing film in Chinese history at the time, and 'Fearless' (2006), which he stated would be his last wushu martial arts film.

Philanthropy and Personal Life

Jet Li is also a dedicated philanthropist. In 2007, he founded the One Foundation, which was registered in 2011 as China's first private charitable fundraising organization. The foundation supports disaster relief and mental health initiatives. He also co-founded Taiji Zen, an online platform offering instruction in meditation and tai chi.

Li was born on April 26, 1963. He was married to Huang Qiuyan, with whom he has two daughters, and later married Nina Li Chi, with whom he has two more daughters. He obtained US citizenship in 1997 but renounced it in 2009, becoming a Singaporean citizen in 2009. In 1998, Li converted to Tibetan Buddhism. He has publicly shared that he suffers from hyperthyroidism, though he has stated his charity work is a greater focus than his illness.

Views on Life and Martial Arts

As a Buddhist, Li believes in overcoming life's difficulties through religious philosophy and emphasizes inner harmony over mere power or speed in martial arts. He views his films 'Hero,' 'Unleashed,' and 'Fearless' as embodying his core messages about compassion, non-violence, and self-mastery. He advocates for peaceful conflict resolution and differentiates between the heroic portrayals in movies and the realities of real-life confrontations.